Delphinium plant named ‘Coral Sunset’

ABSTRACT

A distinct cultivar of Delphinium plant named ‘Coral Sunset’, characterized by its upright plant habit; freely flowering habit; and double light red-colored flowers.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Delphinium elatumcultivar Coral Sunset.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofDelphinium plant, botanically known as Delphinium elatum, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Coral Sunset’.

The new Delphinium was discovered by the Inventor in 1999 in acontrolled environment in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands, as anaturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Delphinium elatumcultivar Princess Caroline, not patented. The new Delphinium wasselected by the Inventor on the basis of its unique light red-coloredflowers.

Asexual reproduction of the new Delphinium by cuttings in a controlledenvironment in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands, since 2000, has shownthat the unique features of this new Delphinium are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Coral Sunset have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensitywithout, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Coral Sunset’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Coral Sunset’ as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Upright plant habit.

2. Freely flowering habit.

3. Double light red-colored flowers.

Plants of the cultivar Coral Sunset differ from the parent cultivar,Princess Caroline and other Delphinium cultivars known to the Inventorin its unique flower coloration. In addition, compared to plants of thecultivar Princess Caroline, plants of the new Delphinium are shorterthan plants of the cultivar Princess Caroline.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Delphinium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Delphinium.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Coral Sunset’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical flowers of ‘Coral Sunset’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view ofthe upper surface of a typical leaf of ‘Coral Sunset’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. Plants used for thephotographs and the following description were about one year old andgrown under outdoor field conditions which closely approximatecommercial production conditions in Hillegom, The Netherlands. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 15 to 27° C.and night temperatures ranged from 7 to 14° C. The photographs anddescription were taken in September, 2002.

Botanical classification: Delphinium elatum cultivar Coral Sunset.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Delphiniumelatum cultivar Princess Caroline, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—By cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About 14 days at 14° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 40 days at 20° C.

Root description.—Fine.

Plant description:

Form.—Upright perennial flowering plant with double flowers arranged onerect racemes. During a growing season, about four flower racemesdevelop per plant; moderately vigorous growth habit.

Plant height.—About 95 cm.

Plant diameter.—About 35 cm.

Primary flowering stems.—Length: About 95 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.Internode length: About 2.9 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth;slightly glaucous. Color: 143A to 143B.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Rosette at the base and alternatealong flowering stems; simple. Length: About 14.7 cm. Width: About 21.3cm. Shape: Deeply palmate to pedately-lobed. Apex: Acute. Base: Hastate.Margin: Incised to laciniate. Texture: Upper surface: Glabrous. Lowersurface: Sparse pubescence at veins and margins. Venation pattern:Laciniate. Color: Young foliage, upper surface: Between 141A and 143A.Young foliage, lower surface: 138B. Fully expanded foliage, uppersurface: 139A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 138B. Venation,upper surface: 143A. Venation, lower surface: 143B. Petiole: Length:About 8.6 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm by 5 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color:143B.

Flower description:

Appearance.—Double flowers arranged in terminal racemes; flowerszygomorphic. Flowers face mostly outward. Flowers not persistent.

Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering. Primary flowering stem, about 75flowers; secondary flowering stems, about 25 flowers each.

Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous from July throughSeptember in The Netherlands.

Fragrance.—None detected.

Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days.

Flower longevity as a cut flower.—At least ten days.

Inflorescence size.—Length: About 52 cm. Diameter: About 16 cm.

Flower size.—Diameter: About 5.7 cm. Depth, excluding spur: About 3.8cm.

Flower buds.—Length, including spur: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 9 mm.Shape: Ovoid. Color: Upper surface, 22B; lower surface, 145C; towardsthe apex, 143A to 143B.

Petals/petaloids.—Appearance/arrangement: About four petals and about 22petaloids per flower arranged in multiple whorls. Length: Petals: About2.6 cm. Petaloids, largest: About 2.4 cm. Width: Petals: About 1.4 cm.Petaloids, largest: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Petals: Obovate tooblanceolate. Petaloids: Outermost petaloids: Obovate to oblanceolate.Innermost petaloids: Oblanceolate to narrowly oblanceolate. Apex, petalsand petaloids: Obtuse. Margin, petals and petaloids: Entire. Texture,petals and petaloids, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,petals and petaloids: When opening, upper surface: 38B; towards thebase, 145B to 145D. When opening, lower surface: 38B; towards the base,145A to 145C. Fully opened, upper surface: 51B to 51C; towards the base,145D. Fully opened, lower surface: 51B; towards the base, 145B to 145C.

Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower; rotate; one with a spur.Length: About 2.4 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm. Shape: Obovate to elliptic.Apex: Acute to obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Color: Whenopening, upper surface: 38B; spot at the apex, 144B to 144C. Whenopening, lower surface: 38B; spot at the apex, 143A to 143C. Fullyopened, upper surface: 51B to 51C; towards the base, 145C. Fully opened,lower surface: 51B to 51C; towards the base, 143B. Spur: Length: About 2cm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 51Bto 51C.

Pedicel.—Length: About 9.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Angle: About 5 to25° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Smooth. Color: 143A to143B.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About four per flower. Antherlength: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: 200C. Pollenamount: Scarce. Color: 157B. Pistils: Quantity: About five per flower.Pistil length: About 9 mm. Stigma shape: Two-parted. Stigma color: Closeto N155C. Style length: About 7.5 mm. Style color: Close to 186A to186B. Ovary color: 152C to 152D.

Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Delphinium have not beennoted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Delphinium.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Delphinium plant named‘Coral Sunset’, as illustrated and described.